'5th starter' a positive ID for Astros' Hernandez

Roberto Hernandez won a spot in the Astros' rotation by going 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA in five appearances this spring.

Roberto Hernandez won a spot in the Astros' rotation by going 3-0...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Only a few minutes before the Astros had to officially make a decision on his contract, veteran righthander Roberto Hernandez began taking boxes to his sports utility vehicle Tuesday morning at Osceola County Stadium.

Having been told a night earlier that he'd made the club's opening-day roster, Hernandez was packing his belongings for the trip to Houston. Now he'll wait to see where manager A.J. Hinch slots him in the rotation.

"I feel very good," Hernandez said. "I'm very happy to make the team and be in the rotation."

Late signee

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

Hernandez, 34, didn't sign his minor league contract with the Astros until Feb. 12. He was then held back in the Dominican Republic as he waited to secure a work visa.

He might have arrived two weeks late to camp on March 5, but he was primed to compete with Asher Wojciechowski, Dan Straily, Sam Deduno and Alex White for the fifth spot in the rotation.

"I was always working hard in the Dominican," he said. "Thankfully, I came to camp very prepared. I was ready to put the work in. That's what I'll keep doing - putting the work in."

Hernandez is 67-93 with a 4.60 ERA over parts of nine seasons in the majors since making his debut with the Indians as Fausto Carmona. The 6-4, 230-pounder falsified his identity to sign with Cleveland when he was 20 years old. He claimed to be 17 at the time.

His false identity and age were uncovered in January 2012, when he was arrested outside the American consulate after attempting to secure his work visa in the Dominican. He cleared his legal hurdles and was allowed to return to the U.S. later that year, then went 0-3 with a 7.53 ERA over three major league outings for the Indians late that season. He also made four minor league starts.

He is 12-24 since he began pitching under his real identity, going 6-13 with a 4.89 ERA in 2013 with the Rays and 6-8 with a 3.87 ERA in 23 games last year with the Phillies.

Hernandez, who will start Thursday against the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field in Corpus, is 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA this spring in five appearances (three starts) covering 17 innings.

"Hernandez will either start the third, fourth or fifth game of the season," Hinch said.

One slot undetermined

Considering there are questions about lefthander Brett Oberholtzer, who missed a week this month with a left lat strain, Hinch said Tuesday he hadn't eliminated Wojciechowski from the opening-day roster.

Oberholtzer is scheduled to start Saturday against the Royals at Minute Maid Park in the final exhibition game.

"We've got to talk about that," Hinch said. "Obie, as I've said, is behind a start in terms of volume and getting through what we would deem a full spring training. It's weighing on us a little bit. I think we'll have a little more of a game plan (Wednesday) when we have a game plan for a lot of different scenarios."